Oddsshark recently released over/under regular season win totals for National Football League teams.
Here is a look at the Tennessee Titans in the AFC South.
Over/under
Oddsshark has Tennessee at 5.5 regular season wins. Last year, the Titans went 2-14 in the regular season.
The upside
It can’t get worse than last year. At least that’s what Tennessee backers are thinking.
Because of the poor record, the Titans did receive the second pick, where they picked Heisman trophy winner Marcus Mariota. Mariota will be thrust into the starting line-up, and according to most stories, he’s been one of the biggest surprises in the early going at training camp.
To get to six wins, the Titans must improve in the running game and against the run. Last season, the Titans ranked 31st in rushing defense, while the offense was ranked 26th in rushing in the NFL. Bishop Sankey is now in his second season and the expectations have gotten bigger. He will be joined in the backfield by David Cobb and coaches are expected to try to run more, especially with a rookie quarterback.
Against the run, the Titans will hope its linebacking corps of Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo can stop teams from moving the ball up and down the field at will.
What does help the Titans is that they play Jacksonville twice, and Tampa Bay and Oakland once. Granted, the Titans owned the second pick in the 2015 NFL draft, but the Buccaneers had the first pick. That game will open the 2015 season, so one of those teams will be well on its way to six wins.
The Raiders and Jacksonville also haven’t fared well in recent years.
The downside
Starting a rookie quarterback hasn’t always been the recipe for success in the NFL. And starting a mobile rookie quarterback definitely isn’t the recipe.
Mariota will have plenty to learn, and his playmakers at wide receiver and as running back will be young. The defense won’t include much depth, meaning both sides of the ball should experience plenty of troubles during the season.
One of the bigger issues staring at the Titans is that road games await them during games in which they could win. Tennessee must travel to Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, New York Jets and New Orleans. Those are all games where the Titans could compete, but being on the road will make it far more difficult.
The verdict
Growing pains will once again take center stage for the Titans.
There are winnable games on the schedule, especially the ones already named. However, being on the road that much should scare bettors when considering Tennessee. Look for the Titans to struggle again, especially with the inconsistency likely to be displayed by Mariota, en route to the under.
